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Maine Governor: We (Heart) Toxics and Lobbyists

Monday, February 28, 2011

Maine Governor: We (Heart) Toxics and Lobbyists

by

Abby Zimet

First, Maine's wacko "governor" and scientific powerhouse Paul LePage declared that BPA is just swell thanks except it might sometimes give women "little beards." Now it turns out LePage's famed "wish-list" of environmental and health regulations he wants to kill is the work of corporate lobbyists whose clients include PhRMA, Merck and toy industry groups who likewise argue that BPA and other toxics in dolls and sippy cups are no problem. There's even a smoking gun: tracking numbers. Scary and infuriating.

"The only thing that I've heard is if you take a plastic bottle and put it in the microwave and you heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. So the worst case is some women may have little beards." - Gov. Paul 'I Dunno Nothin' But That Doesn't Stop Me' LePage.

"For God's sake, if you're going to stab Mother Nature in the back, at least wipe your prints off before you drop the knife." - Rep. Bob Duchesne, ranking Democrat on the environment and regulatory-reform committee.

Further

Academics are increasingly, ingeniously fighting back against an Orwellian "Professor Watchlist" aimed at exposing "radical" teachers. The list has inspired online trolls to name their own suspects - Albus Dumbledore, Dr. Pepper, Mr. Spock - and a Watchlist Redux to honor not trash targets from Jesus to teachers daring to "think critically about power." Now 100 Notre Dame professors have asked to join the list in solidarity, proclaiming, "We wish to be counted among those you are watching."